The place I use is a badminton hall in a community sports centre in Quezon City, about fifteen minutes from my apartment by tricycle. I'm a call centre agent and I work night shifts, so I usually play in the late afternoon, before I start work.
From outside it's an ugly building, a big grey box with a metal roof. But inside it's surprisingly nice. There are six courts with green floors and white lines, high ceilings, and nets that are actually in good condition. Along one side there are plastic seats for people waiting, and there's a little shop selling shuttlecocks, water and grips for rackets. It does get hot because there's no air conditioning, only huge fans, and they have to switch those off during games or the shuttlecock goes everywhere.
I go there about three times a week with a group of friends from work. We book a court for two hours and play doubles, swapping partners every game so it stays fair. Sometimes, if a court next to us is free, we challenge other groups, and that's how I've met a lot of new people.
I like it because it's become a really important part of my routine. Working nights can be quite unhealthy. You sleep at strange times and eat badly. Badminton keeps me fit, and it's also a release after a stressful week of dealing with angry customers on the phone. The hall is cheap to rent, so we can afford it every week, and the staff know us now. I'd say it's the one place where I completely forget about work for a couple of hours.